A Junior Designer's Honest Guide to Getting Hired at a Firm That Matters | with Emily Marzocchi
You got the degree. Now what? In this episode of Design After Class, guest host Delphine Leon sits down with Emily Marzocchi, a junior interior designer who packed up her life in Italy and moved to London to land a role at Foster + Partners, one of the most iconic architecture and design firms in the world. What she shares is the kind of career advice design school doesn't teach you. Emily breaks down the real job search experience for design graduates: why she skipped the cover letter entirely, how her personality carried more weight than her portfolio in the hiring process, and why top studios aren't just looking for potential. If you've ever wondered what separates the candidates who get called back from those who don't, this one's for you. We get into the interior design portfolio mistakes that quietly signal "student" to a senior designer (hint: a deck full of polished 3D renders might be hurting you more than helping), and why sketches that show your design thinking process are the real differentiator in a competitive applicant pool. Emily also shares what it's actually like to navigate the studio hierarchy at a corporate architecture firm, handle 180-degree design pivots from clients, and create hospitality spaces built to stay relevant for a decade. Connect with Emily: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-marzocchi/ Get to know NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality): https://newh.org/ If you're a junior interior designer ready to build your portfolio on real, live projects while mentored by industry professionals — apply to join The Live Design Project's talent pool here → https://thelivedesignproject.com/student-signup/
You have the degree. You have the passion. But do you know what actually gets you hired? In a world where AI is reshaping every part of the job hunt, the rules have changed, and the designers who understand that early will have a serious edge. In this first episode of Design After Class, host Catherine Arnal sits down with Geeta Dhar, careers & employability consultant, and Andrew Brown of Your Career Approach, to break down everything you need to know about entering the industry with confidence. From writing a CV that gets past the algorithm to building a portfolio that actually tells your story, they cover the golden rules of job hunting (and the unwritten ones too). You'll hear what employers, recruiters, and career development managers are really looking for when they review your application, why your cover letter still matters more than you think, how to walk into an interview prepared, and how to use social media as a strategic tool rather than an afterthought. Honest, practical, and straight from the people on the other side of the table. Connect with our guests! Geeta Dhar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetadhar/ Andrew Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yourcoachapproach/ Andrew's Your Coach Approach: https://yourcoachapproach.co.uk/ If you're a junior interior designer looking to build your portfolio on live projects, mentored by industry pros, apply to join The Live Design Project's talent pool here → https://thelivedesignproject.com/student-signup/